Delores Huerta

Delores Clara Fernández Huerta (born April 10, 1930) is an American labor rights activist and civil rights champion who has dedicated over six decades to social justice causes. Alongside Cesar Chavez, she co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which eventually became the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), one of the most significant labor organizations in American history. Huerta played a crucial role in organizing farmworkers, many of whom were Mexican-American and immigrant laborers facing exploitation, poor wages, and dangerous working conditions. She was instrumental in leading the Delano Grape Strike (1965–1970), one of the most important labor actions in American history, which resulted in significant victories for farmworkers. Throughout her career, Huerta has been a powerful orator and negotiator, known for her fierce dedication and unwavering commitment to the powerless and marginalized. Beyond labor issues, she has championed women's rights, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ+ equality. Huerta survived a brutal beating during a 1988 police confrontation while protesting, which became a pivotal moment in her activism. Now in her nineties, she continues to be an influential voice for social justice. In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing her immense contributions to American civil rights and labor movements.